Improvement in lightning-rods



D. MUNSON. LIGHTNING Ron.

110.110,778. Patented Jan.3,1871.

fr0/@TW than@ hnelt DAVID M'UNSON, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

Letters PatentNo. 110,778, dated January 3, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN LIGHTNING-RODS.

The lSchedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, DAVID MUNsoN, of Indianapolis, in the county of Marion land State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lightning-Rods; and I do hereby declare the following to be a clear and exact description of the same, referencel being had t0 the accompanying drawingwhich makes part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is an elevation of my improved lightningrod;

Figure 2 is a similarview of the same, constructed in a different shape;

Figure 3 is a vertical central section of the same; andA Figures 4, 5, and v6 are erbss-sectionsin lines a a, b b, c c, respectively, of figsfl, 2, and 3.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

My invention consists in a hollow' lightning-rod of round, elliptical, or angular form, struck up from sheet metal, with a ilange or lip formed on it, which lip extends at an angle to the diameter of the hollow rod.

The rod, at its upper end, is provided with a solid pointpassing into it, and, at its bottom, with a solid' part, which, passing into the hollow rod and into the earth, connects the former with the latter.

It also consists in the means and manner of counecting the several lengths of the hollow rod to each other, and the point-and solid bottom piece to the rod.

A in the drawing represents a hollow lightning-rod, formed of sheet-metalin any suitable manner by bending a piece of sheet metal and rolling or otherwise uniting the edges B to form the lip O at an angle to the'diameter of the rod, which lip, with that side oi' the rod towardwhich it isinclined, constitutes a channel for the ow of water down the rod. Y

In fig. l I have shown the rod as formed in elliptical shape, and in fig. 2 in diamond shape, but it may be made in any other round or angular form, to suit convenience and taste, provided the two edges are brought together to i'orin a lip, G, as described. l

Another lip may be formed on the rod by rolling the bent portions of the sanye opposite to the lip C closely together, and this second lip maybe at an' angle to lip C and the diameter of the rod, or it may extend from the latter in aline parallel to that of lip C.

D is a solid rod of the same shape as the hollow rod, passing into the latter for asuitable distance, and with its lower end buried in the ground.

This piece D connects the hollow rod with the ground, and is provided with a slot, d, through which, and corresponding slots, c, in the hollow rod, passes a. metal band, f, which is bent around the lip, as shown, and thus firmly holds the piece D in the rod A.

The hollow rod A is made in suitable lengths, which, when applied to a building, are united by slipping the upper end of the lower length into the lower end 0i' the upper length, and passing ametal band through slots formed in both lengths where the lips are formed on the body of the rods, bending the ends of the metal band around the lips, as shown in fig. 5. This connection is shown at E, iig. 3.

The lip C on the rod, besides forming a channel for the water to run down, serres to strengthen the rod.

The point F is inserted into the uppermost length, and may be seemed in the same manner as the part D, or be provided with a shoulder resting on the edge ofthe hollow rod. The hollow rod may also be made of spiral shape in its length, if desired. Its great advantage is its being so light and easily handled and applied.

rIhe lip is a very essential part ofiny invention, as

it conducts a necessary amount of water to the-earth to insure a safe passage forthe chargeo` electricity coming iu contact with the point over the rod.

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim as new therein, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is'-.

1. A sheet-metal lightning-rod, when made hollow Aand without any solid supporting-rod or brackets on 4. rIhe connection of the several lengths of theV hollowl rod, as shown at E, substantially as and `for the purpose described.

5. The connection of the Aportion D to the hollow rod by means of metal bands and slots, substantially as described.

` DAVID MUNSON.

Witnesses:

- J oHN Yonne,

WM. PATTERSON. 

